When Formula announced the release of its 360 Crossover Bowrider there was heightened anticipation, as this would be the successor to the company’s popular 350 CBR. Launched in 2013, the 350 was a hybrid design that took shorelines by storm at a time when there weren’t many luxury bowriders over 30 feet. It won admirers with a combination of multiple social zones on deck and a true cabin below. It also carried Formula’s reputation for high build quality and offshore performance.
Now, a decade later, Formula has splashed the 360. Soundings recently ran the boat and determined that this next-generation dayboat was worth the wait.
SMOOTH OPERATOR
Vic Spellberg met us at Keystone Point Marina in Miami, Florida, for a sea trial. No ordinary throttleman, the Chicago native is a former offshore racer who won two Southeast Divisional Championships in the 1980s before serving as the president of the Offshore Powerboat Racing Association. Spellberg’s relationship with Formula began in the 1970s, when he and company CEO Scott Porter campaigned a high-performance Formula 302 SR-1.
With a racer’s precision, Spellberg maneuvered the 360 with twin 380-hp MerCruiser 8.2L sterndrives off the dock. The helm looked high-end, with a stainless tilt wheel wrapped in leather, wireless phone-charging mounts and a glass wall of touchscreen monitors that displayed data from chart plotters, radar, Mercury SmartCraft Vessel View system and more. A triple-wide adjustable seat faced the wraparound dash. The seat is standard equipment and allows passengers to take part in the excitement of operating the boat.
Spellberg pointed the bow toward Haulover Inlet, where heavy boat traffic indicated it was rush hour. As the 360 powered up to slice through sloppy wakes, a pair of drones descended and hovered near the windshield, whirring like oversized insects. A lot of video footage is taken at Haulover and much of it shows novice skippers caught off guard by the conditions. But for Spellberg and the 360, the run was a cakewalk. No mishaps. No drama. The boat did not make YouTube that night.
The running bottom has a lot to do with its refined ride quality and stability. The 360 is built on the proven FAS3Tech hull, a ventilated, stepped design that Formula says provides better speed and stability than a traditional deep-V. The steps introduce air under the hull to reduce drag, thereby improving efficiency, in speed, fuel economy and acceleration.
We ran the 360 in the Atlantic in a 2-foot chop at a variety of speeds. Data displays confirmed the performance numbers from Formula’s factory tests. Top speed at 5000 rpm was 48 mph, with fuel consumption averaging 65 gph, or 0. 74 mpg. A sporty cruise speed is 38 mph at 4500 rpm, with consumption at 49.8 gph and 0.76 mpg, for a range of 137 miles. As for acceleration, the 360’s a hot shot: Think 0 to 20 mph in 12 seconds, and 0 to 30 in 20.
The offshore run showed the boat to be a spirited, high-energy dayboat with the potential to generate a lot of excitement for passengers. Owners who want more speed can opt for more powerful engines. Maximum horsepower is 1,040 (2 x 520), with sterndrive packages from MerCruiser and Ilmor, a British manufacturer of high-performance marine engines and motorsports cars. In addition, the 360 CBR is available in an outboard version that debuted at the 2025 Fort Lauderdale Boat Show.
MATERIAL WORLD
This 360 is about comfort too. The single-level deck allows for good traffic flow, with an unobstructed path forward from the cockpit to the bow. The optional reFlex foam decking on the test boat was kind to bare feet, even under South Florida’s summer sun. The material doesn’t absorb as much heat as fiberglass or wood.
Formula optimized available space for seating and socializing. The bow is one continuous lounge and the bridgedeck has a conversation area created by a U-shaped lounge to starboard and seats to port that flank a galley with a grill and refrigerator. Aft is a serious sunpad with adjustable backrest. Precise stitching and neat piping on the upholstery are details that reinforce the build quality of the boat.
A slick feature is the fiberglass hardtop with a motorized sunroof. On a practical note, it throws shade over a large portion of the cockpit. Aesthetically, it elevates the boat’s profile, which is more muscular and modern. Also on-trend is the swim platform, which stretches a full 2 feet from the transom to extend the boat’s lines and improve the passenger experience.
These updates make for good lines. They’re the handiwork of Michael Young, the new design lead at Formula. He was handpicked by John Adams, who served the brand for more than 50 years before announcing his retirement, and Porter, who wanted a fresh vision that wasn’t steeped in traditional boat design. Young fit the bill: Prior to his work at Formula, he was head designer and stylist at Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus, a custom builder specializing in exotic sports cars.
Young shows his creativity in the cabin, which is accessed through a door built into the dash. The door itself is innovative: When it’s open, a lip at the bottom slides under the portside lounge to keep the structure securely in place. More original is the location of the private head in the cabin. It’s forward, to take advantage of the boat’s beam. Young was able to incorporate a full shower in the compartment, something not common on boats in this size range.
DETAILS, DETAILS
On the ride back to the marina, Spellberg talked about the construction process at Formula, including the crucial “mock-up.” At this stage, craftsmen build a full-scale model from wood and foam on the factory floor. Designers, engineers and owners can crawl through it and evaluate everything from space and sightlines to stowage, for real-world use. This hands-on process ensures refinements are made before the boat goes into production.
On the 360, the result is excellent utility. There’s gel-coated stowage under every seat, stereo speakers for the JL Audio system in sensible locations, multiple USB connections for all guests and retractable armrests at most seats. Belowdecks is room for an optional generator. There are even 24 polished stainless drink holders.
When designing the 360 CBR, Formula seems to have considered an owner’s every need. This update of an old favorite has a reliable offshore hull, dynamic performance, comfortable spaces for socializing, excellent finish and stylish looks that will turn heads at every dock.
LOA: 36’0”
LOA (w/platform): 38’6”
Beam: 11’3”
Draft: 3’6”
Weight (approx.): 18,000 lbs.
Fuel: 200 gals.
Water: 36 gals.
November 2025
